Why drive an electric vehicle?

Fun to drive & easier on the planet, EVs proving attractive

There's nothing quite like driving an electric vehicle for the first time. Even the least expensive models take you to a new place, where driving is quiet and surprisingly fast, especially from a dead stop.

The question is whether the many pros of driving an electric vehicle outweigh the cons that can include everything from limited choices of vehicle size, to the comparatively high purchase price, to the availability of charging in some areas of B.C.. We cover some of the cons elsewhere on bchydro.com, but here, we're sticking to the benefits.

6 great things about driving electric

It's arguable in some areas of the world, where electricity generation is from coal or other fossil fuels, that driving an EV doesn't make much of a difference in carbon emissions. But not in B.C. – last year 98% of the electricity we generated was clean.

Electricity is not only cleaner, it's a lot less expensive. Most drivers of electric cars in B.C. do the bulk of their charging at home or at work, where you're charged at our regular residential rate (or perhaps even for free at work).

At BC Hydro rates, a Nissan Leaf can go 100 km for $2 in electricity costs.

Brakes in an electric vehicle could last 300,000 km or longer before requiring service. There are no oil changes. One study concluded that, over an eight-year-period, maintenance on an electrical car is about a third cheaper than maintenance on a car with an internal combustion engine.

The BC Government announced in 2016 that electric vehicle drivers can get a sticker that allows them to use our HOV lanes, even if there's only one person in the car.

Public charging stations often serve as convenient parking (sometimes free, for both charging and parking). Just make sure you practise proper etiquette by vacating the spot once your car is fully charged.